Rockies top Reds in Cincinnati slugfest

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Seth Smith smacked a pair of two-run homers. Todd Helton also went deep as
part of a three-hit, three-RBI performance for the Rockies, who won for just
the third time in their last nine games.

The Rockies, who had 14 hits, somehow went 0-for-9 with men in scoring
position, but despite leaving 11 men on base managed to grab the rainy opener
of this four-game series.

Brandon Phillips, who hasn't started for two straight games because of an
ankle injury, tied the game with a pinch-hit solo homer in the seventh, an
upper deck blast to left field.

Jay Bruce hit a three-run home run and Drew Stubbs added a two-run blast for
the Reds, who lost for the fourth time in five games.

Phillips hit the first pitch from Rex Brothers in the seventh inning
approximately 432 feet, tying the game, but the Reds couldn't capitalize later
in the frame with two men in scoring position. Former Red Matt Belisle (6-4)
retired Todd Frazier on a foul out to first to escape the inning.

Dexter Fowler singled to left off Bill Bray (2-2) leading off the eighth. Mark
Ellis popped out on a bunt try, but Gonzalez then went deep to right-center
field with the ball landing on the grass beyond the wall, about 439 feet from
home plate.

"What an at-bat he took," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said of Gonzalez. "That's
one of the better swings that he's taken obviously."

Ellis doubled in Fowler in the ninth.

Jason Hammel lasted four innings, allowing four hits and six runs in the start
for Colorado. Huston Street retired the side in order in the ninth for his
29th save.

Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey gave up six hits and five runs through
three innings.

"Of course, it's frustrating. We're a much better team than our record (55-60)
states," Bailey said. "We have games like that where things don't quite go our
way."

The Reds jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first thanks to Bruce's 22nd
long ball of the year, but Smith went deep in the second, and the Rockies went
ahead in the third. Helton singled in a run and came home on Smith's third
blast of the night.

The Reds offense felt no ill-effects from a 94-minute rain delay, promptly
adding three runs in the home half of the third. Edgar Renteria doubled down
the line in right then scored on a Bruce single. One hitter later, Stubbs
belted a first-pitch fastball into the stands in left to give the Reds a 6-5
advantage.

The Rockies came back in the fifth with two more to go up 7-6. Troy Tulowitzki
singled before Helton laced a line-drive home run to right.

Game Notes

Smith had his second multi-homer game this season...This was the first rain
delay at Great American Ball Park this season, aside from two postponements
May 2 and June 21...Tulowitzki has five straight multi-hit games. Over his
last six contests, he's 13-for-20.

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COLORADO: 10CINCINNATI: 7Final

Aug 8 11:56 PM

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Mark Ellis double to right scored Dexter Fowler with two outs. Runner on second with Carlos Gonzalez due up.